ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS - Deputy Police Chief Michael McMorrow filed a lawsuit in December against the borough, the borough's police department, and Police Chief Michael Cioffi alleging he was the victim of retaliation related to political affiliations, including departmental conflicts going back to incidents beginning in Jan. 2004.

In Michael McMorrow v. The Borough of Englewood Cliffs, McMorrow alleges that in or about Jan. 2004, it became known within the department that McMorrow, who then held the rank of lieutenant, would be promoted to the rank of captain. At the time, then-Councilwoman Patricia Drimones, who is Cioffi's sister, became upset that her brother, who was also a Lieutenant at the time, was not being promoted to Captain.

McMorrow alleges that Cioffi likewise became angry, going so far as to have a fight with George Murray, a member of the department who was planned to be promoted to Captain.

McMorrow alleges Drimones improperly utilized her influence as a Councilwoman to block the promotions because her brother was not being promoted to captain.

McMorrow also alleges that he was not promoted in 2004, even though he had seniority, because of political appeasements, as a result of a political agreement between Drimones and Mayor Joseph Parisi. On or about June 14, 2006, the mayor and council promoted Thomas Bauernschmidt to chief and Cioffi to deputy chief. McMorrow was not promoted at that time, though he had more seniority than Cioffi, and in contravention of past practice with regard to promotions.

He alleges he was harassed from then on until he was promoted to deputy chief in 2010 and he alleges the harassment continued.

The lawsuit states that on March 6, 2009, a fatal motor vehicle accident occurred within the borough on Summit Street. Cioffi directed that McMorrow not respond even though he was in charge of the department's Traffic Bureau.

On numerous dates in September and October 2009, Carrol McMorrow's campaign signs were vandalized. While Carrol filed numerous reports regarding the vandalism, Michael McMorrow alleges Cioffi took no appropriate action.

McMorrow alleges on or about Feb. 25, 2011, McMorrow learned that Cioffi had excluded him from discussions regarding the hiring of additional police officers and reviewing applications, even though it would have been appropriate for the deputy chief to be involved in the process.

The suit alleges that on or about March 14, 2011, Cioffi again advised McMorrow that he cannot trust him. McMorrow alleges that on May 31, 2011 he was excluded from attending a funeral for a member of the community and a few days later, on June 3, 2011, Cioffi excluded McMorrow from an event at the North Cliff School.

The lawsuit continues to state that on or about Feb. 9, 2012, McMorrow became aware that Cioffi wanted a report on a call on July 26, 2011, where McMorrow responded to a call regarding a suspicious person on North Virginia Court.

McMorrow's report stated that he had found an individual named Michael Telzer, jogging in that area and he did not appear to be engaged in any suspicious activity and had merely been jogging. On or about Feb. 14, 2012, Cioffi came back into McMorrow's office and allegedly said, "I sent your report back. I did not like your report. You made this guy out to be a perfect citizen."

According to the suit, on or about Feb. 16, 2012, Cioffi sent detectives to the vicinity of North Virginia Court to see if they could identify the individual who called back in July 2011. Cioffi wanted to catch McMorrow in a discrepancy about the incident, the suit alleges, even though McMorrow concluded that Telzer did not engage in any suspicious activity and had merely been jogging.

The lawsuit also contends that several times during the year, former Councilwoman McMorrow received anonymous letters to her home urging her to step-down.

McMorrow demands judgment against the borough, the borough's police department and Cioffi and wants to be compensated with damages including, but not limited to, equitable, punitive and compensatory damages on all lost benefits, wages and rights and non-economic damages for emotional distress, equitable relief in the form of instatement to the rank of chief of police, together with both prejudgment and post-judgment interest and attorneys' fees and costs of court for the borough, the police department and Cioffi's violations of McMorrow's civil rights.

On Dec. 12 Corriston said the borough's insurance company will defend the case.

There is no comment from the borough's insurance company, Thomas Hanrahan, at this time about the case.Email: simone@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6723

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS - Deputy Police Chief Michael McMorrow filed a lawsuit in December against the borough, the borough's police department, and Police Chief Michael Cioffi alleging he was the victim of retaliation related to political affiliations, including departmental conflicts going back to incidents beginning in Jan. 2004.

In Michael McMorrow v. The Borough of Englewood Cliffs, McMorrow alleges that in or about Jan. 2004, it became known within the department that McMorrow, who then held the rank of lieutenant, would be promoted to the rank of captain. At the time, then-Councilwoman Patricia Drimones, who is Cioffi's sister, became upset that her brother, who was also a Lieutenant at the time, was not being promoted to Captain.

McMorrow alleges that Cioffi likewise became angry, going so far as to have a fight with George Murray, a member of the department who was planned to be promoted to Captain.

McMorrow alleges Drimones improperly utilized her influence as a Councilwoman to block the promotions because her brother was not being promoted to captain.

McMorrow also alleges that he was not promoted in 2004, even though he had seniority, because of political appeasements, as a result of a political agreement between Drimones and Mayor Joseph Parisi. On or about June 14, 2006, the mayor and council promoted Thomas Bauernschmidt to chief and Cioffi to deputy chief. McMorrow was not promoted at that time, though he had more seniority than Cioffi, and in contravention of past practice with regard to promotions.

He alleges he was harassed from then on until he was promoted to deputy chief in 2010 and he alleges the harassment continued.

The lawsuit states that on March 6, 2009, a fatal motor vehicle accident occurred within the borough on Summit Street. Cioffi directed that McMorrow not respond even though he was in charge of the department's Traffic Bureau.

On numerous dates in September and October 2009, Carrol McMorrow's campaign signs were vandalized. While Carrol filed numerous reports regarding the vandalism, Michael McMorrow alleges Cioffi took no appropriate action.

McMorrow alleges on or about Feb. 25, 2011, McMorrow learned that Cioffi had excluded him from discussions regarding the hiring of additional police officers and reviewing applications, even though it would have been appropriate for the deputy chief to be involved in the process.

The suit alleges that on or about March 14, 2011, Cioffi again advised McMorrow that he cannot trust him. McMorrow alleges that on May 31, 2011 he was excluded from attending a funeral for a member of the community and a few days later, on June 3, 2011, Cioffi excluded McMorrow from an event at the North Cliff School.

The lawsuit continues to state that on or about Feb. 9, 2012, McMorrow became aware that Cioffi wanted a report on a call on July 26, 2011, where McMorrow responded to a call regarding a suspicious person on North Virginia Court.

McMorrow's report stated that he had found an individual named Michael Telzer, jogging in that area and he did not appear to be engaged in any suspicious activity and had merely been jogging. On or about Feb. 14, 2012, Cioffi came back into McMorrow's office and allegedly said, "I sent your report back. I did not like your report. You made this guy out to be a perfect citizen."

According to the suit, on or about Feb. 16, 2012, Cioffi sent detectives to the vicinity of North Virginia Court to see if they could identify the individual who called back in July 2011. Cioffi wanted to catch McMorrow in a discrepancy about the incident, the suit alleges, even though McMorrow concluded that Telzer did not engage in any suspicious activity and had merely been jogging.

The lawsuit also contends that several times during the year, former Councilwoman McMorrow received anonymous letters to her home urging her to step-down.

McMorrow demands judgment against the borough, the borough's police department and Cioffi and wants to be compensated with damages including, but not limited to, equitable, punitive and compensatory damages on all lost benefits, wages and rights and non-economic damages for emotional distress, equitable relief in the form of instatement to the rank of chief of police, together with both prejudgment and post-judgment interest and attorneys' fees and costs of court for the borough, the police department and Cioffi's violations of McMorrow's civil rights.

On Dec. 12 Corriston said the borough's insurance company will defend the case.

There is no comment from the borough's insurance company, Thomas Hanrahan, at this time about the case.Email: simone@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6723